Support



June 17, 1941. N; HURLBUT 2,246,441

SUPPORT Filed Feb. 26, 1940 Inve t 4 a nor 86 1V; wu 6 Mum/7;

A iiorneys Patented June 17, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUPPORT Newell G. Hurlbut, Joplin, Mo.

Application February 26, 1940, Serial No. 320,919

2 Claims.

My invention relates to supports of the general type disclosed in my U. S. Patent No. 2,007,496

dated July 9, 1935, and also in my copending application Serial No. 318,163 filed February 9, 1940, over which the present invention is designed as an improvement.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a sectional support adapted to be quickly set up, or taken apart, and for building up a floral display for use at funerals in the form of an arch surmounting a, pair of gates, the display being representative of a pair of gates ajar having well known symbolical significance in funeral ceremonies.

Another object is to provide a support for the purpose above set forth which is light in weight, strong and durable, inexpensive to manufacture, and which may be arranged, when taken apart, in a compact bundle for carrying.

To the accomplishment of the above, and subordinate objects presently appearing, a. preferred embodiment of my invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing, set forth in detail in the succeeding description, and defined in the claims appended hereto.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of the preferred embodiment of my improved support,

Figure 2 is a view in top plan, and

Figure 3 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 1 and drawn to an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, the illustrated embodiment of my invention comprises an arch-like frame including a pair of sectional, tubular uprights I connected at the upper ends thereof by a transverse, sectional, tubular arch 2, and a pair of gates 3, detachably secured to said uprights I in an oblique partly opened position.

The uprights I comprise, respectively, a fiat rectangular base, or foundation block 4 adapted to be disposed flat upon the floor and from the top of which arises, centrally thereof, a tubular socket 5 having an enlarged upper end forming a, flange 6 in which is threaded a set screw I. A tubular lower section 8 is telescopically fitted in the top of each socket 5 for vertical and rotary adjustment therein into different set positions as determined by the set screw I. An upper tubular section 9 is detachably secured on the upper end of the lower section 8 by a short sleeve coupling I0 fitted over the adjacent ends of said sections and secured to the upper section by a set screw II extending through the coupling.

The arch 2 comprises a pair of tubular, arcuate sections II connected in end to end relation in the center of the arch by a sleeve coupling I2 fitting over said sections and secured thereto by set screws. The outer ends of the sections II are provided with angularly related extensions I3 secured to the upper ends of the upper sections 9 by sleeve couplings I4 fitting over said sections 9 and secured to the extensions I3 by set screws I5 A pair of short sockets I6 are secured to the lower end portions of the lower and upper sections 8, 9, respectively, of each upright I, as by bolts I'I, each socket I6 having formed therein a pair of vertical parallel bores I8 for detachably securing to said sections one of the gates 3.

Each gate 3 comprises a pair of upper and lower horizontal bars I9 attached at outer ends thereof to appropriate sockets I6 by pairs of prongs 20 fitting into the sockets I6, a pair of prongs being provided on the outer end of each bar I9 to extend downwardly therefrom for fitting! into the appropriate socket I6. Each pair of bars I9 is connected adjacent the inner ends thereof by a vertical bar 2| detachably secured thereto by pins 22 forming pivots. As best shown in Figure 2, the gates 3 slant inwardly of the frame from the uprights I into converging half-opened relation.

The sockets 5 and sections 8, 9 of uprights I, are provided, in what constitutes the front of the support, with upwardly inclined forwardly extending pins, or spikes, 23 suitably spaced along the same for hanging flowers thereon and preferably inclining uniformly from said sockets and sections. The sections II of arch 2, and. the bars 2| of gates 3 are similarly provided with spikes 24. The spikes 23, 24 preferably are wire nails inserted through the sockets 5, sections 8, 9, II, and bars 2| with washers 25 thereon and secured in place by welding, not shown.

As will be readily apparent, the sections 8 of uprights I may be detached from sockets 5 by loosening set screws 1 and the sections 9 from sections 8 by merely lifting the same on the sections 8, the sections II' of arch 2 may be relatively detached by loosening set screws I5 and lifting off sections 9, the gates 3 may be detached by lifting prongs 20 out of sockets I6 and the bars I9 folded alongside the bars 2|. The parts may then be arranged in a compact bundle for carrying, as will be obvious.

The blocks 4 may be provided with stabilizing bars 26 pivoted at ends thereof, as at 21, to corners of the blocks to be swung on the one hand alongside the blocks to extend horizontally beyond the same inlto stabilizing position, or, on the other hand, swung on their pivots alongside the sockets 5 into folded position. Stop pins 28 on said blocks 4 establish the stabilizing positions of said bars 28. For a more detailed description of the stabilizing bars 26 attention is directed to my copending application supra.

In the use of the invention, wreaths, or sprays of flowers, not shown, are hung on the spikes, 23, 24, whereby a floral arch gateway is formed with gates therein partly opened, or ajar, the flowers, it will be understood, covering the support.

The manner in which the support may be set up section by section will be manifest.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suffice to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. A support for building up a floral display comprising an, arch-like frame including a'pair of uprights, a pair of gates adapted to be detachably secured to said uprights, respectively, and being collapsible when detached, and coacting devices on said uprights and gates, respectively, for attaching said gates to said uprights, said devices securing said gates to the uprights in converging rela tion with inner ends spaced apart and maintaining said gates rigid against collapsing.

2. A support for building up a floral display comprising a pair of tubular upright sockets forming base members for the support, a pair of tubular lower sections telescopically fitting in said sockets, respectively, for endwise vertical adjustmenlt into different set positions, a pair of upper tubular sections detachably secured to the upper ends of said lower sections, respectively, in upright position, a sectional arch member connecting the upper ends of said upper sections and detachably secured thereto, a pair of gates, means to mount said gates on said lower and upper sections against swinging and in converging rela-- tion with inner ends spaced apart, and means on said sections, arch membe and gates for suspending fiowcrs thereon.

NEWELL G. HURLBUT. 

